Toronto Pearson introduces expanded suite of MagnusCards Card Decks to enable greater ease and independence for persons with autism

TORONTO, CANADA, 2018-Apr-03 — /Travel PR News/ — With World Autism Awareness Day celebrations underway, Toronto Pearson has announced the release of 10 new MagnusCards Card Decks — fun, step-by-step visual and audio guidance on how to navigate a busy airport environment for persons with autism and other cognitive special needs. The latest Card Decks help remove barriers by expanding access for users and their caregivers to a wider spectrum of common airport processes, including Transferring Terminals with the Link Train, Finding Food, and Connecting to US via Terminals 1 and 3.

“We are always looking for ways to provide excellence in service and product innovations to empower our passengers and make them feel welcomed,” said Scott Collier, Vice President, Customer and Terminal Services at The Greater Toronto Airports Authority. “Toronto Pearson was the first airport in the world to offer MagnusCards and, today, we are excited to reaffirm our partnership with Magnusmode in support of improved accessibility for persons with autism and other cognitive special needs at Toronto Pearson by introducing an expanded suite of Card Decks to enable even greater ease and independence. It’s another step forward in our journey to become more accessible and creating a universal experience for all passengers.”

Part of the free MagnusCards App, the newly released Toronto Pearson Card Decks build on the 10 that were launched in 2017 ahead of the busy Holiday travel period. To date, there have been 1,780 downloads of Toronto Pearson Card Decks, with Airline Check-in, Security Screening, and Boarding an Airplane topping the list. The comprehensive suite of 20 Card Decks are available in English and French and can be downloaded via in the Apple App Store, Google Play, or by visiting torontopearson.magnuscards.com.

A Canadian innovation, MagnusCards leverages technology to empower and support people to ensure they can navigate a variety of daily functions, with support from photos and step-by-step instructions. Toronto Pearson Card Decks are part of a growing suite of Card Decks available from leading brands, including CIBC, Colgate, and MLSE.

More than 1% of the population is affected by autism worldwide¹, with 1 in 94 Canadian children diagnosed with autism².

About Toronto Pearson
Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) is the operator of Toronto Pearson International Airport. Toronto Pearson is focused on becoming the best airport in the world; enhancing the passenger experience, safety, security and supporting the success of our airline partners. Welcoming 47.1 million passengers in 2017, Toronto Pearson is Canada’s largest airport and second busiest North American airport for international traffic.

The area around Toronto Pearson is the second-largest employment zone in Canada; it facilitates more than 6 per cent of Ontario’s GDP and directly employs 49,000 people. Toronto Pearson believes being a good neighbour means balancing operations by engaging with communities that surround the airport. It strives to have a positive impact by investing in social good and community-building initiatives through its community investment program, The Propeller Project.

For more information please visit Toronto Pearson on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

Contact: GTAA Media Office | media.relations@gtaa.com | (416) 776-3709

¹Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2014
²Autism Ontario Knowledge Base

SOURCE: Greater Toronto Airports Authority

 

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